Pedro de Calatayud

Pedro de Calatayud SJ (Tafalla, August 1, 1689 – Bologna, February 27, 1773) was a Spanish preacher and writer of the Jesuit order.

He taught rhetoric and philosophy at the Jesuit college in Medina del Campo and Sacred Scripture at the University of Valladolid (from 1725 to 1728).

Regarding the technique used in his mission sermons, Calatayud explained: In the discourse of my sermons, one proceeds gently, more by reasoning than by shouting, so that, as the quiet and gentle rain soaks into the earth, so the rain of disillusionment penetrates the soil of the heart; this is achieved with solid and natural motives, natural language, and expression.

[...] However, in the final section of the sermon, threats, thunder, and judgments must be included, along with the effectiveness and spirit needed to correct vices and frighten the impious and those corrupted by their sins.

[2] Pedro de Calatayud was a prolific writer, with 39 published works and hundreds of manuscripts (114 or 295, depending on the source), many of which were sermons where he frequently reproduced texts from other authors.